How to Use a Modern Public Library
Has it been a while since your last visit to a public library？If so， you may be surprised to learn that libraries have changed for the better．It's been years since they were dusty little rooms with books．They have transformed themselves into places where you can develop your love of knowledge，meet interesting people，or find out how to start a business．
Check out a book．While libraries still loan out（出借）books，you'll find it easier to get a copy of whatever you're looking for，thanks to a cooperative network of area libraries．Via such networks，libraries share their books with each other through the use of delivery vehicles．Once the book you've requested is delivered to the nearest branch，they will inform you by e﹣mail，so you can pick it up．
Check out other items．The library is now a multimedia zone，loaded with information in many formats（载体形式）．You can borrow movies on DVDs，music on CDs，and popular magazines．Some libraries even loan out toys and games．If a popular magazine you want isn't offered and the library keeps a list of such requests，they may bring it in when enough interest is shown．
Join targeted reading groups．Libraries will often hold reading﹣group sessions targeted to various age groups．Perhaps you'd like to learn a language or improve your English．The library may sponsor a language group you could join．If you have difficulties reading，ask about special reading opportunities．Your library might be able to accommodate you．And you might find it relaxing to bring your small kid to a half﹣hour Story Time while you sit quietly in a corner with a good book．
Start a business using the help of your local library．If you want to have a business of your own，your local library can become a launch space for it．In library books and computers，you can find information on starting a business．Many libraries will help you with locally supplied information about business management shared through chambers of commerce（商会）and government agencies，and they will offer printing，faxing and database services you need．
（1）Public libraries connected by a cooperative network benefit readers by ．
| A． |
sharing their books on the Internet |
| B． |
giving access to online reading at a library branch |
| C． |
sending a needed book to a library branch nearby |
| D． |
making the checkout procedures diverse |
（2）According to Paragraph 3，what items may be checked out from a public library？
| A． |
A magazine and an e﹣book． |
| B． |
A game and an oil painting． |
| C． |
A music CD and a kid's toy． |
| D． |
A DVD and a video player． |
（3）As is described in Paragraph 4，taking a small kid to a half﹣hour Story Time allows ．
| A． |
the kid to learn a new language |
| B． |
the parent to enjoy quiet reading |
| C． |
the kid to overcome reading difficulties |
| D． |
the parent to meet their program sponsor |
（4）Your local library can help you start a business by ．
| A． |
providing relevant information and supporting services |
| B． |
offering professional advice on business management |
| C． |
supplying useful information of your potential buyers |
| D． |
arranging meetings with government officials |
（5）What is the purpose of the passage？
| A． |
To point out the importance of public libraries． |
| B． |
To encourage people to work in public libraries． |
| C． |
To introduce the improved services of public libraries． |
| D． |
To call for the modernization of public library systems． |
Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal （信号）. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize （强调） the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job．In many European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand．I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled．After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment （多元文化环境） will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to _____.
| A．develop closer relations | B．share the same culture |
| C．get to know each other | D．keep each other company |
The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _________.
| A．the English prefer to make long speeches |
| B．too many words are of no use |
| C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature |
| D．even talk and silence can be culturally different |
According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?
| A．By sharing different ways of life. | B．By accepting different habits. |
| C．By recognizing different values. | D．By speaking each other’ s languages. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Multicultural Environment. | B．Cross-Cultural Differences. |
| C．How to Understand Each Other. | D．How to Build Up a Relationship. |
Many facts suggest that children are overweight and the situation is getting worse, according to the doctors. I feel there are a number of reasons for this.
Some people blame the fact that we are surrounded （包围） by shops selling unhealthy, fatty foods, such as fried chicken and ice cream, at low prices. This has turned out a whole generation of grown-ups who seldom cook a meal for themselves. If there were fewer of these restaurants, then probably children would buy less take-away food.
There is another argument that blames parents for allowing their children to become overweight. I agree with this, because good eating habits begin early in life, long before children start to visit fast food shops. If children are given fried chicken and chocolate rather than healthy food, or are always allowed to choose what they eat, they will go for sweet and salty foods every time, and this will carry on throughout their lives.
There is a third reason for this situation. Children these days take very little exercise. They do not walk to school. When they get home, they sit in front of the television or their computers and play computer games. Not only is this an unhealthy pastime（消遣）, it also gives them time to eat more unhealthy food．What they need is to go outside and play active games or sports.
The above are the main reasons for this problem, and therefore we have to encourage young people to be more active, as well as steering them away from fast food shops and bad eating habits.According to the text, what kind of children may eat more unhealthy food?
| A．Those who often take exercise. |
| B．Those who often watch television. |
| C．Those who often have meals at home. |
| D．Those who often walk to school. |
The author thinks that children are becoming overweight because
| A．their parents often cook meals for them |
| B．they are too busy to go out and play |
| C．they can’ t choose what to eat |
| D．there are too many fast food shops around |
The word "steering" underlined in the last sentence most probably means _______.
| A．forcing | B．guiding | C．driving | D．moving |
The main purpose of the text is to _________.
| A．tell a story | B．provide facts | C．give advice | D．compare opinions |
When Ben Franklin was only a boy, he always wanted to know about things. He was always asking his father and brothers “What?” and “How?” and “Why?”
They couldn’t always tell him what he wanted to know.
When they couldn’t tell him, Ben tried to find out for himself.
Many times Ben did find out things that no one knew before. The other boys would say, “That Ben Franklin! He’s always finding out something new!”
Ben lived close to the water. He liked to go there to see the boats. He saw how the wind blew them across the water.
One day Ben said to himself, “Why can’t the wind help me float across the water? And I’m going to try.” Ben got his big kite. He took hold of the kite string and ran with it. The wind took the kite up into the air. Then Ben jumped into the water.
The wind blew the kite high into the air. Ben began to float across the water. Soon he was on the other side, and he had not worked at all.
One boy shouted, “Look at Ben floating across the water! His kite takes him to the other side without any work!”
“Yes,” said another. “He’s always finding new ways to do things.”When he was only a child, Ben .
| A．liked to fly a kite by himself | B．always asked easy questions |
| C．always liked to play with water | D．always liked to find out how things worked |
His father and brothers .
| A．couldn’t answer all his questions | B．could answer all his questions |
| C．tried hard to find out something new for him | |
| D．were too busy to answer his questions |
How did Ben Franklin float across the water?
| A．The other boy took him across it. | B．The water carried him across it. |
| C．The flying kite took him across it. | D．A boat took him across it. |
He found out many things that .
| A．children didn’t know | B．his father and brothers knew |
| C．people didn’t know | D．most people knew |
Singapore Flyer was launched in 2008 and states to hold the current title for the world’s biggest observation wheel, full 30 meters taller than the London Eye observation wheel in London! Soaring 165 meters, Singapore Flyer offers a whole view of Singapore’s important tourist attractions including the scenic Marina Bay.
Singapore Flyer is also popular for providing an attractive range of shopping and dining choices. Among its greatest dining choices is the Singapore Flyer Sky Dining, one of the most exciting dining experiences you will ever come across.
Singapore Flyer Sky Dining is the first ever in the world to offer a full service in the sky. To top it all you are presented with best menus created by award-winning cooks from all over the world.
The sky dining doesn’t stop from there. You will gain fast boarding flights, in other words, no more waiting in line to board an observation capsule (机舱). You can enjoy the service of an in-flight host along with a nice three-course fine dining menu.
Be ready to enjoy yourself in the air-conditioned glass capsule where you will be served a welcome drink, an appetizer (开胃品) along with the main course. From the capsule you will see the night skyline of Marina Bay, Merlion Park, Raffles Place, Empress Place and Padang, bathed in exciting colors. And not just once but you will get to see these very interesting sights twice, during your almost one hour long special dining experience.
Up to five couples can book a small room and there are even choices to book an entire room for you and your partner. The sky dining experience begins from the VIP waiting room where you will be served with tasty desserts and drinks of your choice. You can see the Singapore Flyer conveniently from one of the top hotels in Singapore like M Hotel Singapore. 
At Singapore Flyer, tourists can ___________.
| A．do some shopping and have dinner |
| B．enjoy some interesting sights just once |
| C．enjoy a wonderful 30-minute dining experience |
| D．get a whole view of all the Singapore’s tourist attractions |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about Singapore Flyer?
| A．It is the second biggest observation wheel in the world. |
| B．The menus are created by native cooks. |
| C．It provides fast boarding service. |
| D．There are no special rooms for couples. |
The underlined phrase in the third paragraph probably means “___________”.
| A．What’s more | B．At the top of it |
| C．What’s worse | D．From top to bottom |
The three-course dining menu at Singapore Flyer usually includes the following EXCEPT___________.
| A．a welcome drink | B．the main course |
| C．an appetizer | D．tasty desserts |
Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
| A．Virtual Tourism | B．A Guide to Singapore Flyer |
| C．Eating at Singapore Flyer | D．The future of Singapore Flyer |
The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit－card (信用卡) fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal web site（非法网站）.
Web sites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care.
On－line shoppers who enter their credit－card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought. The thieves then go shopping with your card number—or sell the information over the Internet. Computers hackers (黑客) have broken down security（安全）systems, raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25,000 customers of CD Universe, an on－line music retailer (零售商) , were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit－card numbers were posted on a Web site after the retailer refused to pay US $157,828 to get back the information.
Credit－card firms are now fighting against on－line fraud. MasterCard is working on plans for Web－only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on－line. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated (欺骗).
Ask about your credit－card firm’s on－line rules: Under British
law, cardholders have to pay the first US $78 of any fraudulent (欺骗性的) spending.
And shop only at secure sites; Send your credit－card information only if the Web site offers advanced secure system.
If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right－hand corner of your screen. The Web site address may also start https: // － the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit－card information over the telephone.
Keep your password（密码）safe: Most on－line sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.What is the meaning of “fraud”?
| A．Cheating. | B．Sale. | C．Payment. | D．Safety. |
How can the thieves get the information of the credit card?
| A．The customers give them the information. |
| B．The thieves steal the information from Web sites. |
| C．The customers sell the information to them. |
| D．The thieves buy the information from credit card firms. |
How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?
| A．Four. | B．Three. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
You are shopping on the site: http: // www. Shopping. com, and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest to do?
| A．Order the TV set at once. |
| B．Do not buy the TV set on this site. |
C．E－mail  the site your credit－card information. |
| D．Tell the site your password and buy the TV set for you. |